Little Langdale – Valley of Footpaths and Slate History

Little Langdale combines a green valley landscape shaped by pastureland with impressive traces of slate quarrying and a richly layered history. Public footpaths in the lower-lying areas offer views of the surrounding landscape. At the same time, disused quarries, historic buildings and older routes tell the story of how the valley was used over many centuries. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage, Little Langdale is therefore particularly suitable as a destination if you would like to combine nature experiences with cultural discoveries.

Walking Routes between Quarry, Tarn and Fells

A notable route leads from Elterwater to Cathedral Quarry. The route is 3.04 km long and offers views of Little Langdale Tarn and the surrounding fells. Cathedral Quarry is a disused slate quarry donated to the National Trust by Beatrix Potter. It is also known as Little Langdale slate quarry and includes a large main chamber with a single natural stone pillar.

There are no facilities at Cathedral Quarry or its car parks. This includes neither toilets nor a café or waste bins. This information should form part of your day planning if you choose the quarry as the destination for a walk. The route from Elterwater to the quarry combines appreciation of the landscape with a tangible reminder of the area’s slate history.

Another option is the bridleway from High Tilberthwaite to Little Langdale Ford and Slater Bridge. It passes through spoil heaps and old quarries from Tilberthwaite and Hodge Close to Little Langdale Ford and Slater Bridge. The route is 3 km each way. Those wishing to accommodate different interests within their travel group can choose between the public footpaths in the lower-lying areas, the route to Cathedral Quarry and this section of route without combining them into a single route.

Slate Quarrying and Older Traces in the Valley

The landscape of Little Langdale is green and shaped by pastureland. At the same time, subtle traces of 18th-century slate quarrying can be seen. The remains of copper-mining facilities can also be found at Greenburn Mine. The valley therefore contains several forms of earlier mineral extraction: slate shapes various locations across the landscape, while Greenburn Mine recalls the area’s copper mining.

The history of the routes also reaches far back. A Roman road ran through Little Langdale, linking Hardknott Fort in Eskdale with Galava near Ambleside. Behind Fell Foot Farm lies a gently sloping hill known as a “ting mound”. It served as a meeting place for an Old Norse assembly. Such historical connections add another dimension to a stay if, alongside the landscape and physical activity, you would also like to explore the development of the valley.

Historic Buildings and Architectural Details

At the foot of Wrynose Pass lie the Farm Buildings at Fell Foot. Their north wing dates from the 16th century, while the main building dates from the 17th century. Inside The Bield are a timber-framed window with a central mullion from the 17th century, as well as a cupboard and a panelled partition, both dated 1714.

Further examples illustrate different architectural forms and periods. Birk Howe Farmhouse is a whitewashed, two-storey stone building dating from the 17th century, with a slate roof and a large chimney. Dale End, with its adjoining barn, is a whitewashed 18th-century building; the stone barn is built into the slope. Those interested in architecture, local materials and historic residential buildings can include these examples as individual points of interest in their travel plans.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for accommodation in Little Langdale, it is worth first deciding what you want your stay to focus on. If the trip is to be shaped primarily by footpaths and landscape, the routes to Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale Tarn and the fells will be central. If you are more interested in history, the evidence of slate and copper mining, the Roman road and the historic buildings can be organised as cultural themes. Your travel plans can combine public footpaths in the lower-lying areas, landscape observation and historical discoveries. Then choose your holiday apartment or holiday cottage according to the itinerary you would like to follow in Little Langdale.

If you would like to compare other places in the same search area, you can find Skinburness, Preston Patrick, Torpenhow, Ambleside, Arnside, Wetheral, Longtown and Burneside here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.